EAGLES PRESEASON: 7 TAKEAWAYS FROM LAST NIGHT’S STEELERS SHUTOUT

The Eagles defense led the way Thursday, securing a 17-0 shutout of the undermanned Pittsburgh Steelers. With no Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell or Antonio Brown, among other starters, the Steelers looked very different than they will in just a few weeks when the teams face off in a game that actually matters. If you didn’t watch the game — too focused on Usain Bolt or skipping the preseason because Carson Wentz was the only reason to watch — we don’t blame you. We watched (again) so you didn’t have to.

THE PROBLEM WITH SETH WILLIAMS TAKING EAGLES SIDELINE PASSES

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams clearly loves the Eagles. This week, through disclosures of gifts Williams turned in late, we learned his connection to the team goes deeper: Williams was given free sidelines passes by the Eagles from 2011 to 2015. Those passes are not available for sale to the general public, and Williams spokesperson Mustafa Rashed said Williams and other employees of the district attorney’s office have used them. But is there a potential conflict of interest with Williams receiving and using those sideline passes?

MEET BRUCE BEEMER, WOLF’S PICK FOR INTERIM ATTORNEY GENERAL

Pennsylvania is now on track to have its third attorney general in less than a week. Gov. Tom Wolf announced today that he’s nominated Pennsylvania Inspector General Bruce Beemer to serve as the attorney general of Pennsylvania until January, when a new leader takes office after November’s election. Beemer, who is a former employee of the Office of the Attorney General and a well-respected figure in Harrisburg, must be confirmed by the state Senate. With top Senate leaders on both sides of aisle already supporting Beemer’s nomination, that confirmation is likely to come soon. So here’s what you need to know about the guy before he takes the oath of office.

THE REAL IMPACT OF NAFTA ON PENNSYLVANIA

Donald Trump sees his path to the White House winding through Pennsylvania. He’s campaigned in the state many times, largely in the so-called T-section away from Philly and Pittsburgh, and gone so far as to say the only way he’ll lose Pennsylvania is if the election is rigged (not true). On most of his stops, Trump touts his message of getting jobs back for blue-collar workers who have seen their livelihoods taken away because of the decline of American manufacturing. In a recent interview with Johnstown television station WJAC, Trump emphasized a specific cause for the plight of these Pennsylvanians, saying, “NAFTA, signed by Bill Clinton, has been a disaster for Pennsylvania.” There’s no doubt manufacturing has taken a hit in Pennsylvania, as it has in the rest of the country the last 20 years. But how much of the blame can be attributed to this free-trade agreement?